The UK Defence Senior Advisor to the Middle East and North Africa
(DSAME) Air Marshal Martin Sampson conducted a three day visit to
Lebanon from 23 to 25 January.
DSAME met Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Najib
Mikati and Commander in Chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)
General Joseph Aoun. He was accompanied by the British Ambassador
to Lebanon, Hamish Cowell, and the UK’s Defence Attaché Lt.
Colonel Lee Saunders.
At the UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura, DSAME toured the Blue Line
and underlined the UK’s full support for UNIFIL’s work in south
Lebanon, as mandated in UN Resolution 1701, and offered his
condolences following the tragic death of Private Sean Rooney. He
was accompanied by the UK’s new Deputy Head of Mission, Camilla
Nickless.
DSAME also met the inspiring Lebanese endurance athlete Michael
Haddad. DSAME was inspired to hear about Mr Haddad’s ambitious
plan to walk 100 kilometres across the North Pole later this
year, in order to draw attention to the devastating impact of
climate change.
The British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hamish Cowell, said:
It is a pleasure to welcome Air Marshal Sampson to Lebanon. The
longstanding cooperation and partnership between the UK’s Armed
Forces and the Lebanese Armed Forces makes a significant
contribution to Lebanon’s security, sovereignty and prosperity.
The UK will continue to do all we can to support this, including
through our agreement last month for a further £13 million
commitment to support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).
I also take this opportunity to express my admiration for Michael
Haddad’s achievements. He is an inspirational role model. I wish
him the best of luck in his upcoming North Pole expedition.
Air Marshal Martin Sampson said:
It was an important visit to Lebanon, hearing about the impact of
the severe economic crisis on the Lebanese people in general and
the Lebanese Armed Forces in particular. I admire the courage and
resilience of the Lebanese people and that of the LAF in face of
adversity. The UK remains committed to strengthening our
bilateral cooperation between our two countries and supporting
the LAF’s resilience.
I conveyed my condolences and support to UNIFIL over the tragic
incident which resulted in the tragic death of Private Sean
Rooney and injured three others. We reiterated the UK’s position
that the perpetrators must be held to account. UNIFIL’s mandate
and operations in South Lebanon are important to stability and
security for Lebanon and the region.
